French Toast Casserole With Sourdough Bread
Looking for a delicious breakfast that’s perfect for busy mornings, holiday brunches, or even Christmas morning? This easy French toast casserole recipe using a loaf of sourdough bread is the perfect make-ahead breakfast that you can prep the night before and pop into a preheated oven the next morning.
This breakfast casserole combines simple ingredients like large eggs, whole milk, and vanilla extract into a luscious milk mixture that soaks into 1-inch cubes of homemade sourdough bread or your favorite types of bread (whether that’s french bread, soft sourdough sandwich bread, or even cinnamon swirl sourdough bread for a special twist). Using stale bread or day-old bread like crusty sourdough bread is the best way to get that wonderful custardy texture without it getting too soggy.
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Topped with a buttery crumb, this baked French toast casserole comes out golden brown, bubbly, and absolutely irresistible. Add a drizzle of maple syrup and fresh fruit like fresh berries for the perfect recipe to impress family and friends at your next gathering.
Whether you’re using leftover bread or baking with fresh bread, this overnight French toast casserole is a crowd-pleasing breakfast dish that’s simple, satisfying, and ready to become your go-to breakfast bake. Let’s get started!
Why You’ll Love This French Toast Casserole with Sourdough Bread
This French toast casserole is a perfect make-ahead breakfast that takes the classic flavors of traditional French toast and turns them into a crowd-pleasing breakfast dish. Using crusty sourdough bread or day-old bread gives the casserole a wonderful texture that’s soaked perfectly in a rich egg mixture made with whole milk and vanilla extract.
It’s ideal for busy mornings, holiday breakfasts, or Mother’s Day brunch, and it’s easy enough to whip up with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand. Plus, the sweet crumb topping with brown sugar, cinnamon, and unsalted butter creates a golden brown finish that makes every bite irresistible.
Ingredients Needed For This Sourdough French Toast Casserole Recipe
- A loaf of sourdough bread (day-old or slightly stale works best)
- Large eggs
- Whole milk or any preferred milk (like non-dairy)
- Vanilla extract
- Granulated sugar
- Butter (both melted for the custard and cold for the topping)
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Cinnamon
- Salt
How to Make French Toast Casserole with Sourdough Bread
Step 1: Prep the bread
Cut the loaf into 1-inch cubes and spread them in a greased 9×16 baking dish.
Step 2: Make the custard
Whisk together eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and sugar in a large bowl until smooth. You can also use a blender as well if you find it easier!
Step 3: Soak
Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight (up to 8-10 hours) for the best soak. I like to stir my bread cubes after about an hour or two to make sure they are all nicely coated and soaking up the egg mixture.
Step 4: Make the topping
Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl, then cut in cold butter using a knife or pastry cutter until crumbly. Cover and chill until ready.
Step 5: Bake
Preheat the oven to 350°F (preheated oven is key!). Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle the crumbly topping over the soaked bread. Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes until the top of the bread is golden brown and the custard is set. Sprinkle with a little powdered sugar if preferred and enjoy!
How to Store Leftover French Toast Bake
Once cooled, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat when ready to eat.
Best Bread to Use for French Toast Casserole
Avoid using super soft bread like fresh sandwich bread from the grocery store or very fresh loaves, as they tend to get soggy and mushy during soaking and baking. Instead, choose a loaf of sourdough bread that’s at least a day old or stale bread, which is the ideal choice for soaking up the custard mixture without falling apart. Crusty sourdough bread, cinnamon swirl sourdough bread, or French bread work wonderfully and provide that perfect texture balance.
French Toast Casserole With Sourdough Bread
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- 1 loaf (650-750g) sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 7 large eggs
- 2¼ cups (540ml) whole milk (or preferred milk)
- 2 tbsp (30g) unsalted melted butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup (150g) granulated sugar
For the Topping
- ¾ cup (95g) all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup (133g) brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 6 tbsp (90g) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cut sourdough bread into 1-inch cubes and spread evenly in the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and sugar until combined. A blender works here too.
- Pour custard mixture evenly over bread cubes, pressing down gently. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight (up to 8-10 hours).
- Prepare topping: In a medium bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in cold butter until crumbly. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Remove casserole from fridge, uncover, and sprinkle topping evenly over the bread.
- Bake uncovered for 50-60 minutes until the top is golden brown and custard is set.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Serve with fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired.
Notes
- Use day-old or stale sourdough bread: Fresh bread can turn mushy during soaking. Using slightly stale bread helps absorb the custard without falling apart.
- Soaking time matters: For the perfect custardy texture, soak the bread cubes in the egg mixture for at least 4 hours or overnight. This is the best way to ensure every bite is soft and flavorful.
- Cover with plastic wrap while refrigerating to prevent the casserole from drying out and to help the custard soak evenly.
- Topping tips: Keep the butter cold and work it into the flour mixture until crumbly to get a crisp, golden brown topping.
- Baking times vary: Bake uncovered for 50 minutes for a soft casserole or up to 60 minutes if you prefer a more crisp top.
Did you try this recipe? I’d love to see how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @catchthecrumbsourdough on Instagram to show it off!